James Madison is considered to be the "Father of the Constitution," but it was the War of 1812 that ultimately defined his presidency.

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Explore the circumstances and events that would ultimately lead to James Madison's request for a declaration of war against the British.

During the War of 1812, the British army, under Admiral Cockburn, captured Washington, D.C. Just before setting fire to the Capitol Building, Admiral Cockburn chose the only item labeled as "President of the U. States," from the President's ceremonial office as a memento.

Shortly after gaining its independence, the United States goes to war with England over its seizure of U.S. ships and sailors.

This Day In History takes us back to June 18th, 1812, when Great Britain fought Americans in what is known as the War of 1812. Find out why the two fought and what exactly happened. See how the White House was burnt down and destroyed. It's all in this wild, yet interesting video clip.

Discover how President Andrew Jackson went head-to-head against Henry Clay in the Bank War, the central controversy of Jackson's administration.

Watch this interview clip of former U.S. President, Gerald Ford, about his views on war and President Bush. He claims President Bush has many more difficult decisions to make than he did while he was in office. During the Cold War, Ford only had to deal with one man to assure peace, but President Bush needs to deal with people worldwide to assure peace. To hear more from our former U.S. President, watch this clip.